Goalkeeper in play-off flight dash

Hungerford star faces jet rush to reach Cornwall for Truro date

Mon, 27 Apr 2015

Reporter:

Malcolm Howe

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Paul Strudley - dash to Cornwall from Germany

GOALKEEPER Paul Strudley is in a race to jet back from Germany in time for Hungerford Town’s play-off semi-final at Truro City on Tuesday night as they bid to take another step towards winning promotion to Conference football for the first time in the club’s history.Strudley has to make the business trip but is planning to fly back to make a last-gasp dash to Cornwall to take his place in the second meanest defenced in the league in time for the Evo Stik League Southern Premier Division showdown.“We’ll get him back,” said club chairman Nigel Warrick while Strudley said: “I had hopes the trip would not be now, but it has to be.“But I’m checking on the planes and plan to be back.”Truro lost their final league game 3-1 at Histon, but a number of their regular players were rested while Hungerford made minimal changes for their 2-1 home win over Paulton Rovers on Saturday.Rovers led early on when Clayton Green punished rare defensive hesitancy to score, but Hungerford dominated the second period and Gary Horgan got them back on terms.Mark Draycott had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Kyle Phillips but the striker ended a drought that stretched back to February 28 when he netted the winner.It ensured a trip to Truro on Tuesday night, when long-time leaders Poole Town will now face St Neots in the other play-off having lost 3-2 at home to now-champions Corby Town in front of a 2,200 crowd.